Major second

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A major second, whole tone, or whole step is one of three commonly occurring musical intervals that span two diatonic scale degrees; the others being the minor second and the augmented second. The major second is abbreviated as M2 and its inversion is the minor seventh. It occurs naturally between the 1st and 2nd degrees of a major scale, as the tonic rising melodically to the supertonic (the familiar Do-Re sung in moveable-do solfege).

In just intonation, the major second can correspond to at least two different frequency ratios: 9/8 (the major tone), and 10/9 (the minor tone), which differ by the syntonic comma. In meantone temperament and 12 tone equal temperament these two intervals are approximated by the same interval. Some equal temperaments with larger divisions of the octave, such as 34-ET, 41-ET, 53-ET, and 72-ET distinguish between these two intervals.

The major second is considered one of the more dissonant intervals of the diatonic scale. It is common in many different musical systems, including Arabic music, Turkish music and music of the Balkans, among others. It occurs in both diatonic and pentatonic scales.

Major Second (equal temperament)

The file plays middle C, followed by D (a tone 200 cents sharper than C), followed by both tones together.

Problems listening to the file? See media help.

[edit] See also

• Whole tone scale
• Pythagorean interval
• List of meantone intervals